Ahead of the next Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has said there are four "myths" with regard to the upcoming by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar that must be dispelled.

The first refers to the premise that Islamist party PAS could win both by-elections in a one-to-one fight with Umno.

"This is not borne out by election statistics. PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang knew this and this was why he said that whatever the outcome, PAS will not lose anything by contesting in the two by-elections," said Lim in a statement.

PAS had last contested the seats during the 13th general elections in 2013 as part of the then Pakatan Rakyat federal opposition coalition.

"It is true that the PAS candidates lost by a wafer-thin majority of 399 votes in Sungai Besar and a slim majority of 1,082 votes in Kuala Kangsar.

"Sungai Besar, which was won by BN with 49.6 percent of the total votes cast, is among the 16 most marginal seats won by the BN in the 13th GE with less than 50 percent of the votes cast, while Kuala Kangsar won with 50.4 percent of the votes cast is among the 30 BN marginal seats won with less than 51 percent of the votes cast," said Lim.

The Gelang Patah MP, however, reminded PAS that the support was given on Pakatan Rakyat's platform rather than just towards their individual candidates.

He also cautioned that PAS will not be able to repeat its GE13 performance, citing an alleged loss of support from non-Muslim and Muslim voters.

Rather than relying on numbers from GE13 and GE12 in 2008, Lim said it would be more accurate for PAS to gauge its chances as a stand alone opposition party in 2004.

"... It was the 2004 GE results which is the more correct reflection of PAS strength in Sungai Besar when it secured 7,988 votes against Umno’s 15,337 - losing by a huge majority of 7,349 votes or PAS securing 33.1 per cent of the votes cast," Lim said, adding that the same trend could be seen in Kuala Kangsar.

2004 GE true position of PAS influence

The PAS candidate in Kuala Kangsar, Lim noted, came very close to victory in GE13 because he was standing as a Pakatan Rakyat candidate - with 13,136 votes against Umno's 14,218 votes, or 46.6 percent of the votes cast in a three-cornered contest.

Similarly, the PAS candidate in GE12 lost by 1,458 votes when he secured 9,277 against the Umno candidate’s 10,735 votes.

"But it was the 2004 GE which reflected the true position of PAS influence in the constituency when it lost by 5,557 votes or securing 32.9 percent of the total votes cast," Lim added.

He also described as a myth the argument that a PAS candidate in a straight fight with Umno in both constituencies is a rare opportunity to send a message of change to BN.

This is because Lim claimed that the two top leaders of PAS - party president Abdul Hadi Awang (photo) and spiritual adviser Harun Din - are the only opposition leaders in the country who have defended Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak over allegations of alleged financial mismanagement.

The third myth is that the coming twin by-elections could act as an indicator for the possible fate of 81 marginal constituencies out of 222 seats.

Lastly, Lim said the fourth myth is that Umno will definitely win in the event of a three-cornered contest.

"What could be 'game changer' to debunk this myth in the two by-elections?" he asked.

Pakatan Harapan has yet to decide on its candidates or which party would field a candidate in either one or both of the seats.

The Election Commission has set June 5 for the nomination day, followed by two weeks of campaigning and polling is on June 18.